Is M N Vijayakumar, a senior IAS officer, trying to gain public sympathy by staging a ‘drama’ even without taking charge as the MD of Mysore Lamps (MLL)? Yes, say some top government officials.

The officials pointed out that Mr Vijayakumar has not taken charge from a Commerce & Industries Department official, Mr Somanna, who holds additional charge as MD of MLL.

Mr Somanna was right in not allowing Mr Vijayakumar into the MLL premises as the latter had “gatecrashed” into the premises with many ex-employees and media persons. “He had turned down Mr Somanna’s request to enter the premises alone to take charge. But he wanted entry for all who accompanied him,” they say. 

“The officers have to sign the charge transfer certificate (CTC). How can Mr Vijayakumar claim himself to be the MD when he has neither taken charge nor signed the CTC? Is he a politician to play to the galleries or to enter the premises in a procession?” they ask. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary P B Mahishi refused comment on Mr Vijayakumar’s threat to file a case against him for barring his entry into the MLL premises.

‘Only twice’
On Tuesday, the government said Mr Vijayakumar's transfers were not connected to his reported fight against corruption “as projected in a section of the media,” or that he was being humiliated and harassed for his efforts to expose corruption in high places.

Tushar Giri Nath, Additional Secretary (Personnel Administrative Reforms -Service), in a statement said Mr Vijayakumar, “for all practical purposes, was deemed to have been transferred only twice in the past six months.”  Mr Nath said Mr Vijayakumar was transferred as Regional Commissioner (RC), Gulbarga, in September 2006. But he refused to report for duty, citing personal reasons. He even dared the government to initiate disciplinary action against him, “but the government did not alter the transfer order.”

Warned
In October, he was promoted and posted as Principal Secretary (Minorities Welfare) for a day and then asked to report at Gulbarga. But “on his repeated pleadings”, he was posted as RC, Bangalore, on February 2, 2007, with a warning “not to repeat such behaviour”. 

As RC here, Mr Vijayakumar professed inability to attend meetings called by the Revenue Secretary as both belong to the same grade. He was then transferred as Principal Secretary (Public Enterprises), on February 20 -- an order that was withdrawn on February 24 as the incumbent IAS officer, I Devendran, was allowed to complete the three months of service left. Thus it was that Mr Vijayakumar was made MD of MLL, says Mr Nath. Mr Vijayakumar served 16 of his 26 years in service here, it was stated.

LOKAYUKTA IN THE FRAME
The Upa Lokayukta, Justice Patri Basannagoud, on Tuesday asked Principal Secretary (Commerce & Industries) Shivakumar to inform him about the government stand on the MLL issue. Mr Shivakumar reportedly told Justice Goud that Mr Vijayakumar had to take charge first. “He was not allowed into the factory because he wanted to go in with 10 former disgruntled employees, and we were apprehensive about safety of property on the premises,” he told the Upa Lokayukta.
Meanwhile, Mr Vijayakumar has sent an email to the Lokayukta, Justice Santosh Hegde, about his ‘problem’. “If he wants us to take up the issue, he’ll have to file a complaint in a proper format,” says Justice Hegde.

Explanation
The Commerce and Industries Department has sought an explanation from Mr Vijayakumar regarding his conduct and actions after his posting as MD of MLL.
According to sources, the department has received a detailed report from the in-charge MD Somanna “regarding actions of Mr Vijayakumar”. Appropriate action is likely to be initiated against Mr Vijayakumar as per law after obtaining his explanation, the sources added.